Water leak.

I was put on a water meter back in Feb, on the first day I called SE Water to tell them I had a leak underground somewhere as the meter was showing large amounts of water.
They told me not to worry, they would fix it free.

Anyway to cut a long story short, eventually two weeks ago, they sent out a couple of plumbers to confirm there was a leak, trouble was, the stop cock in the house was old and wouldn't turn the water off.
So they decided to cut the old one off and replace it.

Anyway, this bloke sets to it with a reciprocating saw, cuts not only the main water pipe but goes on to cut through a central heating pipe next to it.
I found him with the kitchen rapidly filling up with water, and he was rushing around trying to find a tap to turn off in the airing cupboard, to stop the heating draining down.
I said to him, there wasn't one, but luckily, I have most rads turned off so it did stop after a while.

He then sent his mate to the local plumbing store to get some bits to fix the heating pipes..

And he fitted a new stop cock.
In all it took about four hours, plus mopping up time.

He confirmed that there was a leak

Next thing was the heating wouldn't fill up, so he said he only knew about cold water, ( I doubt that he even knew that), so he called up a heating engineer who took another 3 hours to get the hot water working.

Any way I've got the digging brigade coming tomorrow afternoon, apparently they can fix five leaks in a day.
So expecting loads of disruption, the pipe runs under mostly concrete and my back porch floor, it also runs under my Campsis, Caesalpinia, and a pretty large Agave.

I'm guessing they might fix it, but at what cost to me in lost working time, as I doubt the holes will be filled back in before the weekend, being that they are starting so late on a Friday.

 

Oh joy

 

Did you tell them you only wanted them to fix ONE? And to not take all day about it?

Guess that means a trip to Shiney Land is off the calendar for you then matey

 

Well I've got to say the trip to Shiney Land was a bit in doubt before this.
We have a rush on at work, so getting "encouragement" to work Saturdays.

So along with tomorrow afternoon off, things dont look good.

 

That has disaster written all over it,they'll have to be watched but not too close where does the main electric come in

 

Aint got a clue.
Probably very near the gas pipes.

 

BOOM

 

Shouldn't the local water board be investigating your underground leak?

EDIT: Ignore me!

Just hope the leak isn't on your property, might not have to pay anything.

 

Oh heck @pete what a blinking nightmare. I hope it's soon fixed . Please let us know how they get on tomorrow

 

Sounds like a fun weekend Pete . Hope all goes well and not to much damage occurs to your planting.

 

If you get holed in for too long and rations run short ... PM me Sunday and I'll bring emergency rations (you do *like* curled up sarnies, don't you? )

 

Well, would you believe it.
The 1pm appointment turned into a 4 pm appointment

When the bloke turned up he said it was a nightmare, and did I really want him digging holes and leaving them open over the bank holiday?
My reply was NO, but then why have I been hanging around for three hours.

Last job over run, was the reply, and this one probably will also.

So he went away, and the job will be re booked, hopefully for early morning start.

Means more lost time at work.
But if I go in, in the morning for a few hours I can make up the time.

Might still manage Shiney's place in the afternoon.

 

could the meter be faulty,is it a lot of water the water would have to go somewhere, garden wet do you have access to a damp meter to test the concrete the leak might be under, be a shame to have your stuff dug up

 

No the meter has been tested.

The bloke said today, its amazing how the water doesn't always surface, especially if its under concrete.

 

Best of luck! If they're anything like our local lot you'll need it. They had the road up to fix a leak on the mains and went through a gas pipe. So we were then told that we all had to leave our houses (I nearly got arrested over that) until it was isolated. When it was all finally done Sue flicked the telly on, I turned my computer on and we were without cable, phone or tinterweb!